Manufacture of buttons



E. L, ANDERSON. mANuFAcTURE m' BUT-TONS. ABPLLCATION FILED JUNE 7, 1919.

32,340,51 5. l 1 Patented May 18, 1920;

wilma UNTTD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. ANDERSON, OF ATTLEBORO,-MASSACI-IUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO R & G COMPANY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

MANUFAGTURE or BUfr'roNs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed May 1e, reso.'

Application led ,Tune 7, 1919. Serial No. 302,481.

To all whom t may cmtccm Be it known that l, EDWARD L. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing, at

Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and type of cuff button having itsy separable parts or sections detachablyjoined by means of a head and socket connection.

The principal object is to draw and shape each part of the button from an integral blank of flat sheet metal by a sequence or series of steps wherebyl the manufacture is facilitated and rendered more economical.

Further objects will appear as the description progresses and those features of construction and the arrangements and combinations of parts on which protection is desired will be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical or aXial section through the blank subsequent to the initial drawing operation for forming the male or head carrying part of the button. f

Fig. 2 is a similar view following the second step in the forming of the button, the head and upper portions having a slit and perforations, respectively.

Fig. 3 shows the blank shaped and ready to receive the button front.

Fig. t is a top plan view of the finished part.

Fig. 5 is an axial View of the female or socket part of the button following its initial drawing operation.

Fig. 6 depicts a similar view of the blank shaped.

Fig. 7 shows the base flange cupped to receive a front, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of a complete button in assembled form.

In the preferred practice, each part is drawn from a Hat circular section or disk of sheet metal which has its central portion subjected to a drawing operation forming a cylindrical portion 1 open at one end and closed at its opposite end by a top wall 2. Extending outwardly from about the open end of cylindrical portion 1 is a base flange 3 which represents the original plane and outer portions of the disk blank from which the cylindrical portion was drawn.

In the drawing of the male blank a head protuberance is also drawn, the same extending upwardly from the center of the top 2. This7 later, is divided by a diametrical slot 5 defining a plurality of resilient sections designed to contract as the socket part is passed thereover. Concurrent with this slitting` operation the top wall Vis formed with a circular series of apertures G about the base of the head protuberance.

The blankfor the female or socket part not requiring a head is formed with a central opening T before the initial drawing step, and during the formation of the cylindrical portion l the edge about the opening 7v is drawn inwardly, as indicated at 8.

The cylindrical portion l of each blank is next acted on, having its sides drawn inwardly to form a hollow or tubular shank or stem 9, which operation affords a double thickness to the outwardly extending top 2 and also provides a wide flat base or bottom, as indicated at 10 in Fig. 6. The bordering base flange 3 is thereafter drawn into a cylindrical flange, as indicated at 11, depending from the base 1() and providing a cup to receive the front 12. However, prior to rolling in the decorative front, the V-sliaped spring 13 is forced into the head to add reinforcement thereto. As depicted, the outer edge of each endof the spring is balled or enlarged to more readily conform to the head and decrease likelihood of accidental dislodgment of the spring.

During the formation of the stem or shank of the female part the drawn edge 8 is rolled or turned over to provide a reinforcing bead with which the resilient head will coperate. This coperation is obvious from the assembled Fig. S from which the use of the button is readily apparent, one part being inserted in each buttonhole at the ends of the cuil1 and the two companion parts then united merely by pressing the head into the socket.

The body of each button part is integral throughout, affording lightness and obviating raw edges or soldered joints found in structures in which the stern is made separate from the head and base and then united. Omitting these jointing steps, the button can be manufactured more economically with practically no waste of material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The manufacture of two-part buttons, consisting in forming each part from a sheet metal disk from which its central portion is drawn into cylindrical form with one end closed and constituting the top of the part, forming the top of one part with a projecting head and the top of the coacting part with a socket to receive the head, then contracting the sides of the cylindrical portion to provide a shank having a projecting top of double thickness at one end and a base at its opposite end, cupping the base to receive a front, and finally rolling the front into position within the flange of the cup.

Q. In the manufacture of two-part buttons, the process or" forming each part integral throughout, consisting in drawing from the center of a sheet metal disk a cylinder closed at its top and open at its bottom, the open end bordered by a peripheral' llange, shaping the closed end to interlock 1 with the corresponding end of the companion part, contracting the cylinder to form a shank, drawing the llange to Jform an open front receiving cup, and finally in placing the front in the cup and rolling the latter into engagement with the front.

3. The manufacture of two-part buttons, consisting in forming each part from a sheet metal disk from which its central portion is drawn into cylindrical form withone. end substantially Hat and closed, and in forming the end of one of said parts with a head and the end of the other part with a socket to receive the head, then contracting the sides of the cylindrical portions to provide a shank and a top thereon of' double thickness, and finally in attaching a front to the opposite end of the shank.

4. In the manufacture of buttons, the method which consists in forming a cylindrical part with a closed flat end out of a sheet metal blank, forming a socket in said end, and drawing the edge about said socket inwardly, and then in contracting the sides of the cylindrical part to provide a shank and a top, the latter of double thickness.

In the manufacture of buttons, the method which consists in forming a cylindri- -cal part with a closed flat end out of a sheet metal blank, forming a head on said end, and then in contracting the sides of the cylindrical part to provide a shank and a top, the latter of double thickness. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDl/VARD L. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

Bnssm P. TooMnY, J A. MILLER. 

